Over the Weekend: Dripped Trunk Show & Fashion Soiree at Pop tART Gallery

On September 30, local fashion and jewelry designers showcased their work at Dripped, a bi-monthly trunk show and fashion soiree, which was held at the Pop tART Gallery in Koreatown. A deejay was spinning funky beats, the fashion-forward crowd was drinking Peroni beer (a sponsor of the night), and designers were selling their wares.

"Dripped is an event -- a soiree -- that turns life into a fashion show," Geisha, the curator of Dripped, told L.A. Weekly. "It's a place for people to meet, have a great time, and to express yourself."

That was certainly the case last Friday night.

Jonathan Bussiere of Hips and Hair

Patrick Range McDonald

Dripped is also something of an underground movement to help talented designers in Los Angeles make a go of things, especially during these tough financial times.

"Because of the economy," said Geisha, who works with Pop tART owner Phyllis Navidad, "artists and designers have found it difficult to get their collections out. We've seen a lot of success in our event in promoting these people."

One such person is Kylee Fauss, founder and designer of Miss Wax, a cutting-edge, Southwestern-influenced jewelry collection that caught people's eyes and created a buzz at Dripped.

"I started when I was 18," said Fauss, who moved to L.A. four months ago, "and self taught myself in graphic design and then became focused in laser cutting."

Marco Monterroso

Patrick Range McDonald

Another star of the night was Jonathan Bussiere, an artist and designer of Hips and Hair, which makes high-end T-shirts that comment on pop culture.

"A lot of it is done on how I see how frivolous pop culture is," Bussiere said. "But I also find myself getting sucked into it as well."

Dripped revelers also brought their own sense of style to the evening, with Marco Monterroso of San Francisco featuring what he called "casual bondage."

At the Dripped after-party at St. Felix in Hollywood, co-owner John Arakaki showed us around the high-ceiling lounge that caters to a laid back, yet fashionable crowd.

"We wanted a more fashion-forward and mixed clientele," Arakaki said, "so this was a great place to have the party."

The next Dripped event takes place in November in a warehouse in downtown L.A.